Majority of Hungarians against Russia sanctions? – survey

Some 89 percent of Hungarians interviewed in a recent survey said that sanctions on Russia also hurt the European Union and its economy, and 71 percent said that they did not support expanding sanctions to energy resources, including natural gas and crude oil, economic researcher Századvég said on Monday.

The survey based on phone inteviews with 1,000 people in May showed that 72 percent had a negative opinion on Russian President Vladimir Putin as against 68 percent in February. At the same time, 62 percent had a negative opinion on US President Joe Biden in May as against 58 percent in February.

A total of 65 percent had a negative opinion on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in May as against 52 percent in February.

Survey said this was likely the result of criticism voiced by Zelensky and several members of his governmment about Hungary because the Hungarian government continues to buy crude oil and natural gas from Russia and refuses to send weapons to Ukraine.

Some 79 percent of respondents said in May that they were against Hungary sending weapons to Ukraine.

Some 28 percent said that Putin’s Russia had the greater responsibility for the escalation of the confrontation, and 21 percent said that Ukraine was to blame. Some 50 percent of respondents said that Russia and Ukraine were both responsible for the situation.